WIRE ROUTING BY OPTIMIZING CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT WITHIN LARGE APERTURES

- Vaibhav Damle - Amit Tamboli

Left-Edge Algorithm
Proposed by Hashimoto and Stevens in 1971 Regarded as the first channel routing algorithm Can be used in solving Channel Routing Problems Originally used in PCB design Can be applied on VLSI physical design

Basic Left-Edge Algorithm

Attempts to maximize placement of horizontal segments in each track No vertical constraints HV-layer model is used Doglegs are not allowed Produces optimal routing solution with minimum # of tracks(If no vertical constraint)

Algorithm
1. Sort all nets on their leftmost end positions. 2. Select the net with lowest left position; place it on the first available track; delete net from list. 3. Continue scanning the list and select from it nets that do not overlap with the nets assigned to this track; Assign the nets to the current track and delete from list. 4. If list null then goto 2. 5. Exit

N2

N1
N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10

N2

N7

N1
N3 N4 N5

N6

N8
N9

N10

N2 N1 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 1: Build VCG

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Consider horizontal segments of N1, N4, and N10 (the nets that do not have ancestors)
8

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

N1 has the smallest x coordinate N1 and N4 cannot be placed on the same track N1 and N10 can be placed on the same track Place N1 and N10 on the highest track
9

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

N1 has the smallest x coordinate N1 and N4 cannot be placed on the same track N1 and N10 can be placed on the same track Place N1 and N10 on the highest track
10

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Update the VCG (remove N1 and N10 from the VCG)

11

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Update the VCG (remove N1 and N10 from the VCG)

12

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Consider horizontal segments of N4 and N7 (the nets that do not have ancestors)

13

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Consider horizontal segments of N4 and N7 (the nets that do not have ancestors)

14

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Consider horizontal segments of N4 and N7 (the nets that do not have ancestors) N4 has the smallest x coordinate N4 and N7 cannot be placed on the same track Place N4 on the second highest track

15

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Consider horizontal segments of N4 and N7 (the nets that do not have ancestors) N4 has the smallest x coordinate N4 and N7 cannot be placed on the same track Place N4 on the second highest track

16

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Update the VCG (remove N4 from the VCG)

17

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) Step 2: Place horizontal segments

Update the VCG (remove N4 from the VCG) Repeat the placement iterations
18

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) - Result of the Example

19

The Left-Edge Algorithm (contd) - Result of the Example

N1 = 5 N2 = 1 N3 = 2 N4 = 4 N5 = 3 N6 = 2 N7 = 3 N8 = 1 N9 = 2 N10 = 5

(The Output of Your Channel Router)

20

What if VCG is Cyclic

Left Edge cannot handle Cyclic VCG
Solution - Doglegging

Improvement
Doglegging can also reduce the height of channel.

# of Tracks 3 (w/o Doglegging)

# of Tracks 2 (w/ Doglegging)

Summary
With 2 layer modeling, Basic Left Edge Algorithm produces minimum # of Tracks VCG is used to remove vertical constraints Cyclic VCG is solved using doglegging.